80C537 MICROCONTROLLER REMOTE LAB

FOR A COMPLETE E-LEARNING TEACHING

M. Gilibert1, J. Picazo1; M.E. Auer2, A. Pester2; J. Cusid1, J.A. Ortega1
1Technical
2Carinthia

University of Catalonia
University of Applied Sciences

Index

Introduction
Development hardware: DEE537
Development software: Vision2
Virtual learning environment
Remote laboratory approach
Remote lab software
Human board interface
Hardware mock-up modifications
Conclusions
Future work
References

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

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Introduction
Microcontrollers:

Basic subject in electronic engineering degrees

Practical programming exercises
Presence laboratory mock-ups

Higher educational trends:

Problem Based Learning approach

Further accessibility to laboratory resources
Facility to work avoiding displacements

Remote Labs:

Help to improve the learning process

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Development hardware: DEE537

MAIN BOARD

EXPANSION BOARD

Main board:
Microcontroller 80537
Memories
Leds
Switches
Expansion board:
Keyboard
Display
Temperature sensor
Position sensor
Analogue I/O

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Development software: Vision2

DEE-537

Edit
Assemble
Debug
Simulator
Target

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Virtual learning environment

e-Learning Platform:

Telematic communication environment

Container for theoretical contents
Accessible by means of a standard web
browser: http://micros-ct.upc.es

Simulator Sim537:

Practise without expensive equipment

Use from home via Internet

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Remote laboratory approach

RS-232

Power supply
CITRIX server
Microcontroller system
users

DAQ
IP camera

Data Acquisition board

NI PCI-6229

LabVIEW server

CITRIX server x debug information remotely

LabVIEW server x remote human board interaction
Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Remote lab software

LabVIEW server:

National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW 8

NI DAQmx driver

CITRIX server:

Keil Vision 2

Citrix MetaFrame

Client computer:

NI LabVIEW Run-Time engine 8

Web browser

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Human board interface

User access control to permit the access to the physical system

Microcontroller Remote Lab M. Gilibert Villach, 27-09-06

Human board interface

Switch on the board
and reset the
microcontroller

Value change of
position and
temperature
sensor

To monitor
the state of
the leds

Virtual
keyboard to
replicate the
pressed key

Switch control to
change the state of
the switches

To visualise and measure

the signals of the A/D
converter
To generate a signal to
feed the analogue input
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Hardware mock-up modifications

Relay remotely controlled, to

switch on and off the board

Buffer 3-state required for

the correct function of the
remote keyboard

Temperature and position

sensor removed

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Conclusions

New self made remote lab for the 8051 microcontroller family has been
presented, including successful practical results
New changes in the learning process
Useful tool in PBL approach
Lab resources available 24 hours per day
Improvement of the students satisfaction
Flexible schedule
Minimum displacements
A complete e-learning teaching is achieved combining the virtual environment
with the Microcontroller Remote Lab

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Future work

The user access has to be more secure and tough

The VIs could be putted on the web in a way that avoids the user to download
any extra software to run the application
The possibility of contemplating more than one user working at the same
time

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